Although many predicted these teams would win their divisions and advance past the Division Series, there were times this season when both the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers appeared destined to miss the playoffs. There also were times during each team’s ALDS when it looked like elimination was likely. Yet here are the Tigers and Yankees, right where so many expected them to be.

THREE QUESTIONS

1. Will Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder get going? The duo was supposed to carry the Tigers’ offense, but the Oakland A’s sloppy defense in the ALDS was about as responsible for that as Cabrera and Fielder. They combined to go 9-for-41 (.220) with one homers and three RBIs. The hitters around them didn’t do much to pick them up during that series, so if this team is going to advance—especially with Justin Verlander possibly pitching only once—Cabrera and Fielder have to return to regular season form.

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski sees no reason to believe they won’t.

“We have the best 3-4 combo, lefthanded and righthanded, in baseball,” Dombrowski told reporters Thursday night as the two hitters celebrated their ALDS win in the Tigers clubhouse.

2. How important will the aces be? Because both teams were forced into do-or-die Game 5s, Verlander and Yankees ace CC Sabathia had to pitch twice in the ALDS. That means Verlander won’t pitch until Game 3 on Tuesday, and Sabathia,won't start until Game 4.

The aces could face each other if this series stretches to a decisive Game 7. Verlander would be on full rest, but Sabathia would be on just three-day's rest.

3. What about A-Rod? Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been pinch-hit for in the most critical moment of the team’s season. He has been dropped in the lineup. He has been benched in his team’s biggest game. So what now?

Rodriguez should start Game 1, but the team has no idea if he will produce after going 2-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the ALDS. A-Rod isn’t alone, though. Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher also had forgettable a series.

LINEUPS/ROTATIONS

TIGERS

Lineup

1. CF Austin Jackson

2. LF Quintin Berry

3. 3B Miguel Cabrera

4. 1B Prince Fielder

5. DH Delmon Young

6. RF Andy Dirks

7. SS Jhonny Peralta

8. C Alex Avila

9. 2B Omar Infante

Rotation

RHP Doug Fister

RHP Anibal Sanchez

RHP Justin Verlander

RHP Max Scherzer

Closer

RHP Jose Valverde

YANKEES

Lineup

1. SS Derek Jeter

2. LF Ichiro Suzuki

3. 1B Mark Teixeira

4. 2B Robinson Cano

5. 3B Alex Rodriguez

6. RF Nick Swisher

7. CF Curtis Granderson

8. C Russell Martin

9. DH Raul Ibanez/Eric Chavez

Rotation

LHP Andy Pettitte

RHP Hiroki Kuroda

RHP Phil Hughes

LHP CC Sabathia

Closer

RHP Rafael Soriano

TALE OF THE TAPE

Offense: They keys here are a duo and trio: Cabrera and Fielder; and Granderson, Cano and Rodriguez. Cabrera and Fielder are more likely to lock in sooner. Edge: Tigers

Rotation: Verlander will pitch twice on full rest. Sabathia will do so only once. Scherzer and Pettitte cancel each other out. Edge: Tigers

Bullpen: New York seems to have many more options, and Detroit closer Jose Valverde can be an adventure (as we saw in the ALDS). Edge: Yankees

Defense: Both teams struggle with the glove, and New York’s infield will be about as bad as Detroit’s if Derek Jeter still is hobbling. Edge: Push

BOTTOM LINE

Starting pitching and hitting usually are the biggest factor in a team’s success, and the Tigers have the edge in both. Not only that, but Verlander will be better rested than Sabathia in what could be the definitive game of the series. Tigers in six.